Student and faculty collaboration in a clinic for the medically underserved

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Community Medicine

Background:

• Increasing numbers of uninsured and underinsured individuals necessitate improved healthcare access for medically underserved populations.
• Educational strategies are crucial for equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to serve vulnerable patient groups.
• The University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School addresses this need by developing innovative educational approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and operation of extracurricular medical clinics for first- and second-year medical students.
• To provide opportunities for students to gain experience in caring for underserved patients.
• To foster collaboration among medical students, residents, and faculty in community-oriented primary health care.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of volunteer-run medical clinics in collaboration with medical students, residents, and faculty.
• Extracurricular participation for early-year medical students in clinics serving the poor and homeless.
• Description of the operational processes for developing and running a volunteer clinic.

Main Results:

• Over 1,000 patients received care from 163 medical students, 27 residents, and 21 faculty within two years.
• High levels of satisfaction were reported by patients, students, residents, and faculty involved in the clinics.
• The initiative successfully expanded healthcare access for the medically underserved population.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative efforts between medical students, residents, and faculty can significantly improve healthcare access for underserved communities.
• Early engagement in community-oriented primary health care offers positive and impactful learning experiences for medical students.
• This model particularly benefits students interested in pursuing generalist medical careers.